What began as a rumor in Japanese media earlier this week has now been formally confirmed. Honda and Nissan have signed a memorandum of understanding for a feasibility examine to discover the potential of collectively developed electrical automobiles. If the 2 automakers attain an settlement, the partnership might additionally embody working collectively on software program.
The collaboration remains to be in its infancy but when Nissan and Honda do ink a deal, the plan is to channel efforts into “automotive software program platforms, core elements associated to EVs, and complementary merchandise.” The software program half might pertain to security and/or autonomous driving applied sciences because the press launch revealed by each firms talks about “zero traffic-accident fatalities.” It additionally features a shared purpose of reaching carbon neutrality.
In line with a report revealed by Nikkei Asia a couple of days in the past, Nissan and Honda wish to develop a brand new platform completely supposed for electrical automobiles. The collaboration might lengthen to engineering EVs collectively. As well as, the Japanese automakers might pool cash to purchase a typical EV powertrain and batteries.
A tie-up wouldn’t solely velocity up growth but in addition deliver R&D prices down. Honda is now not working with Common Motors to co-develop inexpensive electrical crossovers, so the actual fact it’s looking for a brand new companion isn’t any shock. The collaboration with GM is prone to be restricted to the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX on the Ultium platform.
Nissan has a companion in Renault with regards to EVs and different varieties of automobiles. The following-generation Micra can be closely primarily based on the reborn Renault 5. It may use about 80 p.c of the identical components and can enter manufacturing in 2026 at Renault’s Douai manufacturing unit in northern France.
With Chinese language competitors intensifying whereas the Volkswagen Group and Stellantis are doubling down on EVs, Nissan and Honda do not wish to path behind. Nonetheless, because the two have simply signed an MoU, it means a collectively developed platform/automobile is unlikely to return out within the subsequent few years, supplied a ultimate deal is agreed upon.
